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Mozambique Security Forces Accused of Brutal Crackdown on Election Protests
CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Mozambican security forces reportedly engaged in a severe clampdown on demonstrators following last year’s disputed election, according to a prominent international human rights organization. Local activists cited by Amnesty International allege that the three-month crackdown resulted in over 300 fatalities and more than 3,000 injuries during the post-election unrest. The rights group has called for a thorough investigation into the violence surrounding the Mozambique election protests.
Amnesty International Report Details Alleged Rights Violations
Amnesty International’s latest report urges Mozambican authorities to launch an inquiry into the alleged killings and all associated human rights abuses that occurred after the election. The organization insists on holding accountable law enforcement officials found responsible for any violations.
Post-Election Demonstrations and Allegations of Fraud
In the weeks following the October 9 presidential and parliamentary election, thousands of Mozambicans participated in widespread protests. Daniel Chapo of the ruling Frelimo party was announced as the victor, a result contested by challengers and international observers who raised claims of electoral malfeasance and vote rigging.
The demonstrations primarily supported Venancio Mondlane, an independent candidate backed by the opposition Podemos party.
Escalation of Protests After Political Killing
Tensions escalated after the October 18 assassination of Mondlane’s legal counsel and a Podemos official, who were fatally shot in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo. Gunmen perpetrated the late-night attack while the victims were seated in a vehicle.
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Mondlane condemned the killings as a politically motivated assassination and called for 25 days of protest actions – a symbolic gesture representing each bullet fired at the car. Citing safety concerns, Mondlane subsequently left the country for a two-month period, before returning in January.
Amnesty’s Findings: Excessive Force Used Against Protesters
Amnesty International’s report states that between October 21 and January 25, Mozambique’s police and military employed lethal force against largely peaceful marches and assemblies. Security forces reportedly used live ammunition, rubber bullets, and tear gas against both protesters and bystanders.
The report cites Plataforma DECIDE, a Mozambican non-governmental organization, which estimates 315 fatalities during the protests between October 21 and January 16. This figure significantly surpasses the official death toll acknowledged by authorities. In January, police stated that 96 individuals, including 17 officers, died during the three-month period of unrest.
“Police illegally utilized firearms and less-lethal weaponry, resulting in the deaths and injuries of protesters and bystanders,” Amnesty International asserted. “The military also employed force and less-lethal weapons recklessly and unlawfully.”
Report Based on Eyewitness Accounts
Amnesty International indicated that its report is based on testimonies from 28 individuals, including eyewitnesses, victims, relatives of victims, medical professionals, and legal representatives. Other human rights organizations have reported that at least ten children were among those killed in the protest-related violence.
According to Amnesty, police conducted widespread arrests of protesters and bystanders, including minors. Plataforma DECIDE reported that over 4,000 individuals were detained, with the majority deemed to be arbitrary arrests.
Social Media Restrictions During Protests
Amnesty International also claims to possess evidence suggesting that Mozambican internet service providers curtailed access to social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, at critical junctures during the demonstrations.
Efforts at Mediation and Ongoing Political Tensions
President Chapo was inaugurated in January. In March, he and Mondlane met for mediation talks, with the president pledging to probe the protest-related deaths.
The Frelimo party has governed Mozambique since its independence from Portugal in 1975. It has frequently faced accusations of election manipulation by placing loyalists in control of electoral processes. A European Union observer mission report stated that last year’s election was tainted by the deliberate invalidation of opposition votes, manipulation of polling results, and vote rigging in favor of Frelimo.
Mozambican politics are historically shaped by the 15-year civil war between Frelimo and Renamo, which concluded in 1992. Renamo subsequently transitioned into an opposition party. The protests supporting Mondlane, formerly affiliated with Renamo, represented the most significant challenge to Frelimo’s authority in recent times.
Violence Persists After Crackdown
While protests have subsided following the clampdown, violence continues.
Mondlane recently visited Quelimane, a port city, where gunmen shot Joel Amaral, one of his key campaign organizers, on Sunday. Amaral sustained gunshot wounds three times, including a headshot, but survived and remains in intensive care.